Address:No. 201 Wubin Road Section 2, Wujie Township, Yilan County
Following "The Inheritance of Craftsmanship: Exhibition Series I & II” held in 2013, the third series of the exhibition in Yilan will display the traditional artwork of three Taiwanese families of craftsmen whose skills have been passed down from generation to generation for more than 70 years.
The series of three exhibitions display the traditional artwork of Taiwanese families with long-established craftsmanship skills. The family heritage of these craft arts has helped preserve many precious skills and techniques in Taiwan's traditional arts sector.
The third exhibition reveals the resolute diligence of three families of craftsmen, namely those represented by Shi Kun-yu (施坤玉, 1919-2010, carpentry and woodcarving), Wang Han-song (王漢松, 1923-2002, joinery and wooden furniture making), and Pan Chun-yuan (潘春源, 1891-1972, decorative painting).
Each of the craft works, including the conceptual drafts and implements as well as other related objects, encompasses the traditional and distinctive familial styles of the craftsmen which have been cultivated through the continuous enrichment of life-based consciousness combined with the inherited culture.
Shi Kun-yu, who was born in Lukang, Changhua, in 1919, learned carpentry from Master Shi Ming-zhi (施明智) of Quanzhou, China. Beginning in 1959, Shi independently pursued temple construction projects, including Taichi Enzu Temple in Changhua, Confucius Temple in Taichung, and Luqing Palace in Salu, Taichung. Between 1997 and 1998, he was commissioned by the National Center for Traditional Arts to lead the 'Master Shi Kun-yu Craftsmanship Preservation Project (大木匠師施坤玉技藝保存傳習計畫).'
Shi classified wood carving into six major types — yin carving (陰刻) , shallow relief (淺浮雕), deep relief (深浮雕), carving through (透雕), ball-shaped carving (圓體雕), and cylinder-shaped carving (圓柱體雕). A carver will determine the design based on dimensions and structure of the subject matter.
Shi's legacy has been carried on by his son Shi Zhen-yang (施鎮洋) and granddaughter Shi Yi-wen (施懿紋).
Wang Han-song, born in Lukang, Changhua, had been immersed in traditional culture and influenced by the then-instituted Japanese education since childhood, cultivating a spirit of persistence and profound artistic skill.
Wang held firmly to the inherited family view that "the passing down of a learned art is better than the passing down of mute wealth,” and, therefore, his three sons — Wang Zhao-he (王肇鉌), Wang Zhao-nan (王肇楠), and Wang Du-yi (王督宜) — have all followed in their father's footsteps.
The Pan Chun-yuan family has been of great significance in the circle of Taiwan traditional artists. Born in Tainan, Pan Chun-yuan studied on his own from early childhood until the age of 19, when he opened the Chun-yuan studio and engaged in decorative temple painting.
In the family's second generation, Pan Li-shui (潘麗水,1914-1995) carried on the aspirations of his father and threw himself into the field of decorative temple painting upon completion of his apprenticeship at the age of 20.
Pan Yue-xiong (潘岳雄), the third generation artist, continues his father's dedication by preserving the family's painting expertise and continues to produce outstanding artwork.
More information can be found here.
